In the 1990s, states began to address low-risk youth conduct with zero tolerance policies that criminalized acts like fights without injuries, vandalism, petit theft, underage drinking, marijuana possession, and other common youth misbehaviors. These petty [...]

Florida’s third annual comprehensive study of alternatives to juvenile arrests for common youth misbehavior—called Stepping Up: Florida’s Top Juvenile Civil Citation Efforts 2017—shows three-quarters of all counties earned an F grade. Although Florida’s rate of issuing civil citations to juveniles instead of arresting them went up 10 points over last year’s study to 53 percent, the state still earned an F grade.

Report demonstrates proposed legislation requiring juvenile civil citations for minor offenses would benefit public safety, youth and taxpayers

“Stepping Up Florida County Juvenile Civil Citation Reports 2016” provides reporting of the performance of each county, its school district and its law enforcement agencies with juvenile civil citations, an alternative to arrest for common [...]

Our second annual comprehensive study of Florida’s alternatives to juvenile arrests for common youth misbehavior – called “Stepping Up: Florida’s Top Juvenile Civil Citation Efforts 2016” – shows counties that arresting youth rather than issue [...]